Who's the best counter puncher you've ever seen?

Max Schmeling

 

Interesting--I don't think they're even all that close. Mayweather's counterpunches were faster, more precise, and delivered with better form. And he had the smarts, ring IQ, and reflexes to lure his opponents into counter-punching traps.

 

Jose Medel is the greatest counter puncher in bantamweight history.

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To be more specific, he's probably the greatest power counterpuncher in bantamweight history. Look at that setup right hand cross he threw at Harada very devastating. Look at that left hook he drop Walter McGowan and Jesus Pimentel. They're so precise and packed so much power, this is mainly becuz Medel never slipped to counter. He threw directly at line of fire to generate more power. Look at 0:54 where Medel threw 2 lightning speed punches to counter McGowan, 1:18 he dropped Pimentel with picture perfect left hook, 2:13 he dropped McGowan with right hand counter, 3:08 right hook counter over Eder Jofre, 3:50 left hook counter again against Pimentel and 4:07 right hand counter to a left uppercut dropping Harada. It is said that his knockout over Seki Mitsunori is a picture perfect counter right hand, a very brutal one punch knockout.

Even common opponents has said time and time again that Medel's accuracy and precise counterpunching is what made him a dangerous fighter. Harada said his counterpunching is blinding, Pimentel said Medel is the best puncher he's ever came across and so does the bantamweight GOAT Eder Jofre. Medel is a f___king legend, the greatest uncrowned champ in bantamweight history.

 

Muhammad Ali, in what we saw of his prime, was the best counter puncher I ever saw. And, when he got older, he counter punched very effectively, even from the rope-a-dope.

 

Jose Napoles
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Roberto Duran
Joe Louis
James Toney
Sugar Ray Robinson
Ezzard Charles

 

Trying to.

 

Great mention!!

 

Great list!

 

Jimmy Young, Joey Giardello and Victor Galindez immediately spring to mind, and in the mid to late 60's, Jerry Quarry was excellent.

 

Chris Eubank Sr was probably the sharpest, he could stand still in front of an opponent and counter without making them miss (or blocking) prior!

 

I don't think anyone mentioned Buddy McGirt.

His fight with Simon Brown was a classic example of a counterpuncher taking apart a bigger, stronger fighter.

 

Wilfred Benitez was a great counter-puncher, excellent head movement, and very good at fighting off the ropes, all nof which he put to good use in his decisive victory over Roberto Duran.

 

Sanchez is way up there imo.

 

Going back in the Hot Tub Time Machine:-

Jack Johnson.

My instant choice was Sal Sanchez also - BUT, someone made a good point that it also entails slipping and making the other guy miss - Sal didn’t always get out of the way - but he had a great chin to cover those times.

For the whole package, slip, duck, sway and then counter - Duran was right up there if not the best.

Gotta give Floyd Mayweather Jr his dues in that regard - there’s a lot to the art of clean counterpunching - and the truly great practitioners make it look easy.